Amphibian Chytrid Disease: The Welfare Crisis Destroying Wild Populations

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has driven more species extinctions than any other known disease, causing a global amphibian welfare crisis.

Key Facts

Bd has caused the extinction of approximately 90 amphibian species and driven dramatic population declines in 500+ others
The fungus infects the skin of amphibians, impairing their ability to regulate water and electrolytes - a painful death
Introduced globally through the international pet and food trade, Bd is now considered uncontrollable in the wild
Captive assurance colonies maintain populations of critically endangered species threatened by Bd
Probiotic bacteria applied to amphibian skin are showing promise as a treatment tool in some species
Climate change is expanding Bd's range into higher elevation and southern hemisphere sites previously unaffected
A second chytrid fungus, Bsal, threatens European salamanders and has been found in Asia and North America

Welfare Considerations

Chytridiomycosis causes genuine suffering: affected amphibians display lethargy, abnormal posture, loss of skin function, and ultimately death from electrolyte imbalance. At the population level, Bd has caused extinction-scale welfare harm. The global trade in live amphibians remains a primary driver of disease spread. Practical welfare interventions include supporting captive assurance colonies, developing and deploying probiotic treatments, and strongly regulating or ending the international trade in wild amphibians.

What You Can Do

Never release captive amphibians or their water into the wild
Support zoos and conservation organisations running amphibian assurance colony programmes
Advocate for strict biosecurity regulations on international amphibian trade
Donate to Amphibian Ark, SAVE THE FROGS!, or similar amphibian conservation organisations
Report unusual amphibian deaths or population crashes to local wildlife authorities